What ifthe attacks on your life have much more to do with who you might be in the future than who you have been in the past? What if God’s dream for you is the enemy’s nightmare? - Lisa Bevere

Have you ever felt really, really beautiful? Cherished? Like when you were a little girl--

experiencing that raw, unfettered beauty that came from a complete lack of awareness of yourself.

It was like the world was yelling back at you, “You’re stunning!” And without guile or pride, you would respond:

“I know.”

Somehow through the stress and clutter of time, we lose that uncanny ability to feel completely at home, completely secure and completely—ravishingly, beautiful.

I know for me, it was around the age of 16 I began to be hyper-aware of my body shape. Staring at my thighs, and tummy rolls… and comparing myself to the cover models on Seventeen magazine.

Slowly the comparing became more intense, and soon it felt like a dark cloud brooded over me yearning for other’s approval. I began subjecting my body to rigorous standards and routines, and restriction was my drug of choice.

By 21, I was diagnosed with anorexia. Soon after, I swung to the other direction towards bulimia. To this day I don’t know why exactly I struggled with disordered eating…but now I can with absolute confidence, it was because I had a disordered mind.

I was not examining my thought life, and letting any ‘ol thoughts drop on in! Thoughts of mediocrity, low self esteem, and plaguing insecurity.

And soon—my life reflected my mind, malnourished and underfed.

97% of women today say they have this thought each day: “I hate my body.” We are in a battle for our lives, and the territory the enemy seeks is our very own minds.

However when our “thought habits” are poor, our self-esteem is in the basement, and our mood undisciplined—it is very difficult for God to use us.

Why? We simply feel so bad. We feel so bad about ourselves, our potential, and our futures.

I remember one time staring at myself in the mirror in my dorm room in college and being so frustrated and disappointed at myself wondering

• Why couldn't I be thinner?
• Why couldn't I be more self-disciplined?
• Why couldn't I just be someone else, someone prettier, with no problems?

I remember hitting my forehead over and over and over in the mirror, thinking my problems were too big for God to handle, and I was such a disappointment to God.

Soon after, during a forced doctor visit, I got a rude-awakening. The doctor looked me straight in the eye and said:

“Eileen if you don’t FOCUS on becoming well, I guarantee—you will not be able to have children.”

Wait, what?

I had been so consumed with my looks, I had not even considered, my legacy.

The doctor’s reprimand was like a splash of water in my face. I knew I needed to get well—but now, what do I do?

I began to discover I needed to believe what the Word said about me, over and above my feelings.

I began to see that God actually wanted me to act like His Word was true…especially when I didn’t feel like it!

Soon, I started looking at myself in the mirror and saying:

You are beautiful.

You are worthy of love.

You are a masterpiece in the hand of your God.

I started walking with my shoulders back my head up. Looking people in the eye.

I started acting like I had dignity and I was worth dying for on the cross. Dignifying the sacrifice that Jesus died to give me.

Friend, I encourage you know matter where you are on the journey, walk as if God’s Word is true. Boldly, daringly—in complete defiance toward everything the enemy has said to you- Step out and become confident. When your knees are shaking. When your voice is trembling. When you feel you have nothing to offer.

Because you are the masterpiece hand-chosen by God, beautiful, ravishing and brimming with potential.

Stop hiding, and be who He has called you to be.

Order your mind according to the Word. Speak as He has spoken of you. Use your whispers as weapons and boldly declare who you are in the face of the enemy’s lies.

Then—and only then—you will become who God has called you to become, and do everything He has called you to do!

Eileen is a bestselling author of The Brave Body Method: 4 Steps Toward Self-Acceptance and Winning the War on Weight. She is a pastor on team at her local church, alongside her husband, and the mom to 3 beautiful kids in Washington D.C. To grab a free poster of who you are in Christ, or her free video training “Know You’re Hot” visit